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Ten Ways to Celebrate Graduation at Home

The class of 2020 has proved that they are nothing if not resilient. As this incredible class begins to graduate, they deserve a proper send-off. Whether you’re graduating yourself or just looking to celebrate a grad in your life, here are some of our favorite ideas for celebrating at home with all of the pomp and none of the circumstance.

1.A Drive-By Parade

Looking for a way to celebrate with friends and family while maintaining social distancing? A drive-by parade is a great option! Set up a time and have everyone make signs. Park the grad out front of their living space in a chair and let everyone roll by one at a time, calling out their best wishes. It’ll let the student see friendly faces in the flesh without putting anyone at risk. That’s a win-win.

2. A Zoom Party

Zoom, a free video conference-call software, has been a stand-out during COVID-19, allowing everything from business meetings, to classes, to birthday parties to continue to take place. Consider hosting a graduation party over Zoom, inviting friends and family to hop online and spend some time together in the virtual realm. For extra fun, you can design your own themed Zoom backgrounds for people to use to allow it to feel that much more festive.

3. A Zoom Graduation

This idea is similar to number 2, but with different actions behind it. A Zoom graduation consists of staging a graduation in your home and inviting others to come and watch digitally. Set up a space for your grad to walk “across the stage,” decorate the house, and be sure to have something to hand them and shake their hand. Family members who were also looking forward to this day will love still being able to see the graduate move their tassel and toss their cap in the air.

4. Take Graduation Photos

Get dressed up and strike a pose. Wear regalia if you’ve got it or your favorite clothes. Don any medals you’ve received, decorate your grad cap, and get out your camera. Quarantine doesn’t have to stop you from taking great photos to remember this moment by! Set up a photo shoot around your space, take advantage of the outdoors if you have it, and make props to shoot with. You can even re-create famous graduation scenes from movies and take pictures. This is a moment to celebrate. Make it memorable!

5. Drop Off a Celebration Kit

If you know a grad in the area, you can still run celebratory supplies past their home, even if you can’t physically celebrate with them! Compile a basket of whatever you think the grad needs to celebrate properly. Food and drink, party favors, graduation gifts, decorations, or even just things to help them finally relax after a long, stressful road all make great pick-me-ups for the class of 2020. Don’t forget to leave a note so that they know who it’s from!

6. Order a Cameo

Cameo is a website that allows you to commission personalized messages from actors, singers, athletes, and media personalities. If your grad has a favorite who is on the website, you can purchase a personalized message from them and ask them to wish your student a happy graduation! It’s a unique gift that they’ll cherish for years to come – and can re-watch as much as they want.

7. Watch a Virtual Commencement

Celebrities from all over are coming together to put on memorable graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020. We made a list of many of them here. Tune into one to take part in something bigger with your class, be honored virtually, and listen to commencement speeches and performances from people like Barack Obama. And if you want to tell people that Lady Gaga was at your graduation, we won’t make you get into the specifics.

8. Order a Cake

Commencement isn’t complete until a grad gets to eat some cake. Consider custom ordering cupcakes or a cake from a local bakery and having them deck it out for the day. This can be a great way to both support a local business and make your grad feel special all in one go. Cake is an easy way to make any moment feel even just a little extra celebratory.

9. Start a Hashtag

Start a hashtag for your class on Instagram and share photos to it! Encourage your friends to share their favorite memories from the past four years along with you. It’s a virtual yearbook that can create a sense of community, even when you’re all finishing this journey from your homes. This is also a great place to post fun, 21st-century versions of senior yearbook pages for your friends. You’ll be able to look back on the photos posted there for years to come.

10. Schedule an All-Out Bash for a Later Date

If you’re the type of person who needs to be able to hug your friends and family at a party, plan an elaborate one for later on! You can get started in the meantime by planning food, decorations, guest lists, and music. When the moment finally comes, you’ll be able to soak it all up in person. It’ll be anything but anticlimactic.

Whether you’re graduating this year or know someone who is, there are dozens of ways to celebrate – even in the current circumstances. Class of 2020, you have earned this moment to shine.